Automatically retrieving floating reel



April 17, 1956 J. R. GODWlN 2,742,242

AUTOMATICALLY RETRIEVING FLOATING REEL Filed Nov. 20, 1951 INVENTOR.

124M56- RI/DQCPH GODWYN h ATTORNEY United States Patent IO- AUTOMATICALLY RETRIEVING FLOATING REEL James Rudolph Godwin, Bainbridge, Ga. Application November 20, 1951, Serial No. 257,350 3 Claims. (Cl. 242-89 This invention relates to reels of the automatically retrieving type with particular reference to reels combined with fluid distribution means.

Although conventionally springs are employed to retrieve a reeled out element, such as hose, it would be especially advantageous to provide a reel which would accelerate the rate at which the hose is retrieved and also the rate at which the hose is played out. Accordingly,

one of the main purposes of this invention is to provide a reel which will play .out hose, rope, wire or the like at a greatly accelerated pace requiring a minimum of eflort, and which will automatically reel in or retrieve the hose into a compact unit.

The field of use for such a reel is diverse. For example, a unit of the above described character, when mounted on wheels is ideally suitable for playing out water hose. Another adaptation would be in combination with garden sprinkling means wherein the reeling unit is combined with a valve controlled sprinkler having one valve position Where the hydrant is connected to the sprinkler and another valve position where the hydrant is connectedwith an extendable hose outlet and a third position where water is supplied to both outlets.

how, an undesirable result.

Then, another important inventive object relates to the provision of multiple tier reeling units for fluid distribu tion wherein the reel structure itself forms a part of the flow conduit whereby the resistence to flow through the unit isdecreased and the coils can be contained in a compact eificient unit.

A further inventive object relates to the combination of a hose reeling unit of the latter type with a sprinkler unit wherein the hose and sprinkler outlets are valve controlled from the reel unit.

Another adaptation of this invention, the manual effort required to reel the hose in or out is substantially eliminated by employing fluid means to actuate the reel. The reel is constructed with means responsive to fluid pressure and velocity to cause a rotary movement of the winding element. Consequently by merely connecting the reeling unit to a source of fluid pressure, the reeling operation can be effected. Therefore, another inventive object relates to providing an automatic reeling unit wherein reeling is effected by means responsive to fluid pressure and velocity.

A further object of the invention relates to providing a reel which grips a hose or the like, at a medial portion and which is so formed that the hose is reeled from both ends in parallel coils, the reel being provided with roller means to. facilitate moving the reel unit.

A further inventive object relates to providing a reel of the lattertype with spring means so wound as to resist outreeling, an initial tension being present in the spring to insure complete hose retrieving;

A further inventive object relates to providing a reel of the latter type with sliding doors, anti-friction roller means and wherein the spring for retrieving is helical.

A still further inventive object relates to providing a reel. of the latter type with hose gripping means in the form of an S-shaped groove.

A still further inventive object relates to providing a reeling member having two tiers, one tier being for an inlet hose, the other for an outlet hose, the tiers being interconnected by a valve fitting which also communicates with a sprinkler, the arrangement being such that either the outlet hose or the sprinkler or both can be A still further inventive object relates to Providing a reelwhich is manually actuated employing geared means to transmit the driving power.

Other'objects and structural details will be apparent from the subjoined description taken in connection with the drawings forming a part of the specification and in which:

a Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one form of the reeling unit; I

Fig. '2 is a cross-sectional view of a modification of Fig. l; i V

Fig. 3 is'a perspective view of the rotary winding element of the assembly of Fig. 1;

lFigj 4 is a perspective view of the device in operation;

Referring to the drawings, the reel'unit 15 of Figsfl and 2 comprises the cylindrical annulus 16 vertically disposed relative to the ground and enclosed by the upper frame member 17 and the lower frame member 18.

The resulting annular compartment is provided with the front access door 19 and the rear access door 20. These doors are of the sliding type and fit into the grooves 21 and 22 of the door frame elements 23 and 24 formed transversely to the annulus 16 at diametrically opposite sides. 16 along generally radial planes. sets 23 and 24 are spaced sufliciently whereby the hose can be reeled in and out efiiciently. Attached to the lower disc 18 are the roller means 25 and 26 whereby the entire unit can be shifted easily to any desired location.

A spool member 27 is provided to receive the wound hose 28 and comprises the novel winding disc 29, better seen in Figs. 1 and 3, the upper hose retaining disc 30 and the lower hose retaining disc 31 which are secured to the winding disc 29 by the screw means 32. Formed centrally of the retaining discs 30 and 31 are the upper.

and lower hubs 33 and 34 respectively. The hubs are provided with the bores 35 and 36 which receive the axles 37 and 38 which in turn are secured to the upper and lower frame members 17 and 13 respectively. Con- Said frames extend outwardly from the annulus Each of the exit frame seqnently, the assembly comprising discs 30, 51, 29 and 33 and-hubs 34- is rotatable about the axles 31 and 38,-

The winding disc 29 is formed of two halves 39 and 40 both having circular outer sides 41 and 42 and s'hap'e'd opposing inner sides 43and 44 whi'ch' are spaced sufficiently apart to receive a medial hose portion.

Re'fer'rin'g'to Fig: '1, it is apparent that with the hose so gripped, rotary motion of the windingmember will cause the hose to'be wound doubly, eachadjacent coilset comprising an inner coil representing the inlet end of the hose and an outer coil representing the front or nozzle end of the hose Due t'o the above describedwinding operation, the hose is reeled from both ends thereby substantiallyreducing the time and effort required to play out-a unitof hose length.-

To' retrieve the reeled-out hose;-there' is provided the helical spring 45 whichis wound: so as to resist the reeling out of hose.

When the hose is fully contained in the closed compare.

ment, the front and rear hose ends aresecured by the clips 50=and 51.

In operation, the exit doors 19 and 20 are slid open by the handle means 52 and 53and the hose ends unfastened. The rear end 54, is attached to the spigot 55 and the nozzle end 56 is taken manuallyto the desired location. The hose is then reeled out from bothends with the reeling unit 15 adjustingitself toany position. As the hose is played out, the spring 45 is tensioned'and when the hose ends 54 and 55 are released, the spring 45 will actuate the winding unit 29 to retrieve the reeled out hose. When fullyretrieved, the hose ends are secured by the clips 50 and 51; the doors 19 and 20 are closed and the unit is ready for storage.

Because of the unique structure hereinabove described, elements such as hoses can be reeled easily, rapidly and be contained in a compact portable unit whereby the contents are protected from the weather. While various changes may be made in the detailed construction, it

shall be understood that such changes shall be Within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

One end of the spring 45 being attached to the upper hub 33 whereby clockwiserotation Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is-claimed-is:

l. A hose reeling unit comprising an annular compartment having parallel annular sides, aligned axle means secured in opposing relation to the interior portion of said sides, a reeling structure swivelled about said axle means having relative rotary motion thereto, said reeling structure comprising parallel sp'aced discs each disc having a central hub whereby each disc may be swivelled about the axle means, said discs being interconnected centrally by a winding. disc, said winding: disc having an interior hose gripping means and a circular exterior, the hose being retained medially by" the gripping means, whereby rotary motion'of the disc-will cause the hose to be wound about the disc exterior in two sections, each of said sections corresponding to one of the hose ends, including exit means for each hose end and roller means attached to the bottom of the compartment whereby the unit can be readil'y'shifted a 2. The combination, as in claiin' 1,.whereinthe gripping means is in the form of an S-shaped groove;

3. A hose reeling unit comprisinga support provided with a pairof oppositelydisposed bearing members, aligned axle means rotatable in said bear-ing'members, a reeling structure swivelled about said axle means having relative rotary motion thereto, said reelin'g' structure comprising parallel spaced discs, each disc having a central hub whereby each disc may beswivelled about the axle means, said discs being interconnected-centrally by a winding disc, said winding disc having an interior h'ose' V References Cited in the file of this patent V UNITED STATES PATENTS 175,944 Daniels Apr. 11,- 1876 507,019 Lucia Oct. 17, 1893 697,006 Nuhring Apr. 8, 1 902 972,222 Paul "d Oct; 11, 1910 1,156,402 Heim Oct. 12, 1915 1,921,938 Nuhring Aug. 8, 1933 1,993,617 Nason Mar. 5, 

